Nationwide demand for court reporters skyrockets! A high paying career is attainable in as little as six months

Verbatim or voice court reporting can be a fulfilling, lucrative career, and with the current shortage, opportunities for young professionals are boundless.

WASHINGTON D.C., USA, January 10, 2019 /EINPresswire.com/ — In an age where a college education can mean nearly insurmountable debt and the job market is mediocre at best, court reporting is one career choice that is both affordable and in demand. A precise, accurate record of legal proceedings is a vital part of the justice system so there will always be a need for court reporters to ensure those records exist.

The Shortage

Projections indicate that the shortage represents nearly 5,500 qualified reporters. But why would such a lucrative industry experience this kind of shortage?

There are several factors at play:

• Increased demand in the legal field — increased legal activity has driven the demand for qualified court reporters higher.

• Increased demand in other industries — A growing number of fields (including business, politics, medicine, professional sports, television and many more) require real-time court reporters and transcriptions of conferences, seminars and video.

• Significant retirement rates — The median age of working court reporters is 51 years old. This is almost ten years older than the median age of workers in all occupations: 42 years old. Additionally, 70% of the court reporting population is 46 years or older. This contributes to significant retirement rates in the industry.

• Low education and enrollment rates — Court reporting schools across the nation have reported a steady decrease in enrollment over the last two decades. The schools attribute this trend to low-awareness and the push toward four-year degree programs.

• With high demand, high retirement and low enrollment, there just are not enough reporters to go around. All these factors contribute to the imminent court reporter shortage, despite the rewarding opportunities the industry offers.

What This Means for Reporters

All this begs the question: What impact will this shortage have on current and prospective court reporters? Current court reporters will experience an increased demand for their services. Court reporting firms and freelance reporters will likely encounter more and more opportunities for business. Some experienced professionals may even find themselves caught up in bidding wars for their expertise. However, as demand rises and professionals retire, court reporting firms and legal firms will find it increasingly difficult to hire qualified, quality reporters.

Prospective court reporters will find themselves entering a lucrative career with boundless opportunity. There are countless benefits to pursuing court reporting:

• Less demanding education requirements — An expensive, four-year college education is not necessary to become a court reporter. While continued education is valuable, you can become a certified voice reporter in as little as 6 months while studying online. Less time in school means fewer loans to repay.

• High earning potential — The earning potential for a verbatim court reporter right out of school is an average of $40,000 nationwide, and this number drastically increases with experience. In fact, reporters who invest in continued education and advanced certification typically earn six-figure salaries.

• Freelance options — With the variety of industries in need of court reporters, professionals can create freelance careers. This freelance path can be very rewarding and enables professionals to choose their own hours and create flexible schedules for themselves.

• Stable career, growing demand and increased opportunities —Young professionals in the field will benefit from the various opportunities of this market. New court reporters will be embarking upon a lucrative and stable career.